I don't think this was for me. It was a decent read but it felt slow and monotonous. I wasn't able to get into the book and care about the characters.

Oh my goodness! I so very much loved this book. Vicky and Jude were FBI agents who were partnered to solve a cyber crime. The crime was about how AI was causing murders. There was a judge who was killed when his AI engineered automobile ran amok. A secretary of a prestigious law firm was killed when her AI enhanced house turned on her, and an AI generated ship was wrecked at sea causing the deaths of the captain and three attorneys. Vicky and Jude were a part of a team that included cyber experts Cary and Aiden. While investigating they were all staying in a safe house that did not have any AI enhancements. But in the midst of their investigation while Vicky and Jude were out interrogating people, the stove in their safe house caught fire. The plan was that the entire house would catch fire and kill Vicky, Jude, Cary and Aiden. Cary and Aiden were able to get out along with their guard dog, Clover. Also, all their power was shut down. It was clear this was the work of their cyber stalker. Vicky and Jude felt the law firm was behind it all.

This whodunit had all the markings of an excellent mystery. There were plenty of suspects and it could have been any one of them. The person who ended up being the culprit was a shock. I never suspected that person. I thought the author did an excellent job with character development. They were really believable. The plot flowed easily and I had no difficulty following it. I would love to read more by this author. I gave this book five stars.

This was a great slow burn. Great story and character building. I typically stay away from locked room stories but this one caught my eye with two female detectives investigating a murder and how AI was involved. An interesting premise that I haven't read before. The pace was a tad slow for me but overall this was a solid read.

Thanks @netgalley and @harlequintradepublishing for a copy of this title. All my reviews are unbiased

Can a house kill someone? Can a boat or a car control itself? It can when AI is involved.

When Jude and Vicky get teamed together after a gruesome murder occurs in a locked house they start on an investigation on what AI can do. Or at least what the people controlling AI can do. Jude brings old school knowledge while Vicky brings the technology knowledge.

Twists and turns, close calls, secrets and lies, new friendships and a little spice makes this a must have!

I wanted to really like this book, but it fell short for me. The premise was something new and had potential (started strong) but then it was just slow and not as thrilling as I had hoped.

Thank you NetGalley for a pre-release of The Murder Machine. With the rise of AI, this book raises new social issues. What happens when machines harm humans? And how do humans fight back?

Heather Graham's newest novel introduces us to FBI agents Victoria Tennant and Jude Mackenzie. Agents who are tasked with solving a Florida murder spree seemingly stemming from the corruption of "smart" devices and Artificial Intelligence. I appreciated the closer look at just how many of a person's every day items have incorporated technologies so easy to take over. Honestly, it's a bit alarming even if it was a fictious story.

I have read a few of Heather Graham's novels now and they tend to follow the same formula - beautiful descriptions of the settings, with slow moving plots or action. Overall the novel is a good introduction to these characters who will certainly show up in future books, but not necessarily a memorable one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mira Publishing for the chance to read this novel.

I’m not usually into futuristic or technology-driven books. They often feel a bit too far removed from reality for me, and I tend to prefer stories that are more grounded and relatable. That said, I do believe it's important to step out of my comfort zone from time to time and try something different.

This book ended up being a pleasant surprise. While it took me a little while to adjust to the setting and understand some of the more advanced concepts, once I got into it, I found myself really engaged. The ideas were thought-provoking, and the world-building was impressively detailed.

Overall, I'm glad I gave it a chance. It reminded me that sometimes pushing past initial hesitation can lead to a rewarding reading experience. I may not reach for this genre often, but it's nice to know there are stories out there that can still catch me off guard—in a good way.

We read about homes that do different things by us pushing a button or controlling it on our phones. What if the house turned on you and murdered you? Then other people are found dead by AI. Detective Jude Mackenzie has been assigned help from the FBI Special Agent Victoria Tennant. She is knowledgeable on technology while Jude is old school except he isn't that old.
I enjoyed this book because of the AI connection.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and to the publisher Mira.

Creepy, twisty, and just the right amount of romantic — The Murder Machine pulled me in from the first page. Heather Graham delivers another chilling Krewe of Hunters mystery, full of eerie vibes, ghostly help, and a case that feels a little too methodical for comfort.

The main character has that sixth sense Graham fans know and love, and the chemistry between the leads adds a spark without overshadowing the mystery. It's suspenseful but not over-the-top, with enough clues and curveballs to keep you guessing.

If you like your thrillers with a side of supernatural and just a hint of slow-burn romance, this one’s a solid pick. Graham knows how to weave the past into the present in the creepiest, most satisfying ways.

This was an okay read for me. While I was immediately intrigued by a fresh modern twist on a domestic thriller, I felt a little bit letdown by how little technology played a prominent role in the plot overall. I found the romance thread wasn't very believable either in chemistry nor professionalism. I really don't like when romance is added into books that don't really need it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley.

2.5 stars

The Murder Machine started off and I was absolutely hooked. The whole concept of smart houses and the dangers of AI was immediately what caught my attention in the beginning but it slowly dissolved and lost steam to where it became almost secondary and ultimately became just another FBI/police procedural. I limped along trying to finish this before the pub date but the desire to read it was lacking. Graham is a talented writer it just wasn't quite what I was hoping for.

In true Heather Graham fashion this was a page turner from the very beginning. This book is scary to read because in our world today AI is such a big part of our lives. When AI malfunctions or is messed with bad things can happen.

This book definitely opens up your eyes to how AI can go horribly wrong.

I'm a fan of Heather Graham's book so I was looking forward to reading this one it was such a fun and fast-paced book. I love the idea of artificial intelligence and how the murderer was able to use it in order to get at the people they were after. There was just so much going on that I found it hard to put this book down. I love watching as the two follow the clues and how much mistrustful electronics could be and how intelligent and creative see murder was in taking down the people they wanted to take down using everyday items leaving almost no trace. Overall really good luck I really enjoyed it highly recommend.

The Murder Machine opens with an electrifying premise: a cutting-edge smart home-complete with an integrated AI and fully connected systems-appears to turn on its owner in a chilling act of technological betrayal. Enter FBI agent Jude Mackenzie, tasked with solving a murder committed, it seems, by the house itself. It's a compelling setup that immediately captures attention and promises a high-tech twist on the classic domestic thriller.

While the novel begins with a strong hook and an intriguing concept, the technological angle that sets it apart is largely underutilized as the story unfolds. After the initial shock of the murder, the narrative quickly shifts into more familiar procedural territory, with minimal focus on the smart systems or the potential for digital manipulation. As a result, the novel gradually loses the uniqueness of its premise.


In the end, The Murder Machine is a novel that begins with bold ambition but struggles to maintain its momentum. Though it offers an inventive start, readers looking for a deeply immersive tech thriller may find the story veers too far into conventional crime fiction to fully deliver on its promise.

AI can be wonderful, but it can also be deadly. What happens when it turns against you, your house suddenly goes mad, or your car takes on a mind of its own?

FBI agents are going to learn that there is a lot that can go wrong, and it can be a very deadly game indeed. Vicky and Jude are determined to discover how a young woman, working as a secretary in a law firm, was killed by her house. As they begin working the case, they discover there are more cases than just the one, and each has a different method of death.

This was a great read, and I really enjoyed it. It was hard to put down, and I ended up binge reading it, twice.

AI. What does it stand for? Artificial Intelligence? Active (and annoying) Interference? Aggressive Intrusion? In Heather Graham’s latest thriller, The Murder Machine, maybe any and all, particularly the latter. When a series of bizarre deaths occur, investigators begin to feel these “accidents” might be something more sinister. Could someone be causing the death? If so, how and why? Could the speed and direction of a car or boat be altered? Could household appliances be converted to weapons for murder? Could someone be pulling the cyber strings? If so, why these victims? Agents Jude Mackenzie and Victoria Tennant and a team of cyber sleuths join forces to answer these questions, even as the body count rises. And their own lives are increasingly at risk. Great characters, rapid pacing, unexpected twists, and a dash of the supernatural are Graham hallmarks. The Murder Machine will keep you guessing, and up late.

DP Lyle, award-winning author (Jake Longly and Cain/Harper thriller series), Lecturer, and Story Consultant and Co-creator of The Outliers Writing University
https://www.dplylemd.com/

The Murder Machine by Heather Graham is a blend of technology and suspense that focuses on the dark side of artificial intelligence.

When a woman is found dead in her house with no clues as to who killed her and why, FBI agent Jude MacKenzie and Special Agent Victoria Tennant join forces to find out what happened. When a string of fatal accidents start to occur the team finds out that they are all linked to AI in some way. As the agents pool their resources and intelligence together, they will leave no clue overlooked in their investigation trying to figure out if AI can kill or just be programmed to kill.

I really had such high hopes for this one based on the cover and the summary. I really liked the idea behind this book more than I enjoyed the book itself. A story about an AI programmed smart home killing its resident sounded unique and interesting but in my opinion the novel felt slow with some random narration and then had a weird romance angle. This is all just my opinion though!! This was the first book by Heather Graham that I have read so I think I am going to give her another chance!

Thank you to NetGalley, Heather Graham, and Harlequin Trade Publishing/ MIRA for this ARC!! Publication date: April 29th 2025.

great start that got weaker and weaker throughout until it hit an ending that really was completely underwhelming. 2.5 stars, rounded up. tysm for the arc.

Unfortunately as intriguing as this book sounded, I found it extremely boring and just not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, Harlequin Trade Publishing for advanced e-copy in exchange for a review.